A prominent characteristic of the Ummah of Muhammad is that it is a moderate and balanced community. Its religion is a religion of moderation, which is neither harsh nor excessively lenient, neither excessive nor deficient. Instead of the violence of the Jews and the extreme leniency of the Christians, Islam has chosen balance and moderation.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَکَذٰلِکَ جَعَلْنٰکُمْ اُمَّۃً وَّسَطًا ﴾
Translation:
“And thus We have made you a just community.”
From this noble verse, it is clear that every individual of this Ummah is required to adopt moderation in their beliefs, worship, dealings, and morals, and to avoid all kinds of excess and deficiency.
Success of the One Who Adopts Moderation
The person who adopts moderation in religion and avoids excess and deficiency, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has given the glad tidings of success to him.
Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a person from Najd asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about Islam. The Prophet ﷺ told him the obligations:
- Five prayers during the day and night
- Fasting in Ramadan
- Zakat
Each time the person asked:
“Is there anything obligatory besides these?”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( لَا إِلَّا أَنْ تَطَوَّعَ ))
“That is, there is nothing obligatory besides these, but if you wish, you may perform voluntary acts.”
Finally, the person said:
( وَاللّٰہِ لَا أَزِیْدُ عَلٰی ہٰذَا وَلَا أَنْقُصُ )
“By Allah! I will neither do more than this nor less.”
Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ ))
Translation:
“If he spoke the truth (and acted accordingly), then he has succeeded.”
This hadith is clear evidence that the path to success in religion is neither in excess nor deficiency, but in adhering to the limits prescribed by the Shariah.
Meaning of Ghuluww (Exaggeration/Excessiveness)
The central topic of this article is ghuluww.
The literal meaning of ghuluww is: to exceed the limit.
Allama Manawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
اَلْغُلُوُّ: مُجَاوَزَۃُ الْحَدِّ، وَالْغُلُوُّ فِی الدِّیْنِ: التَّصَلُّبُ وَالتَّشَدُّدُ فِیْہِ حَتّٰی مُجَاوَزَۃِ الْحَدِّ
Translation:
“Excessiveness means going beyond the limit, and in religion, excessiveness is to adopt severity and harshness to the extent that it goes beyond the limit.”
It should be clear from the beginning that avoiding excessiveness is very necessary because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has strongly warned about its consequences.
The Destructive Nature of Excessiveness in Religion
The Holy Prophet ﷺ warned the Ummah that previous nations were destroyed because of this very excessiveness.
He ﷺ said:
(( إِیَّاکُمْ وَالْغُلُوَّ فِی الدِّیْنِ فَإِنَّمَا أَھْلَکَ مَنْ کَانَ قَبْلَکُمُ الْغُلُوُّ فِی الدِّیْنِ ))
Translation:
“Beware of excessiveness in religion, for those before you were destroyed because of excessiveness in religion.”
A similar term with this meaning is “Tanattu’,” which means unnecessarily going deep and being harsh in religion. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also gave a severe warning about this:
(( ہَلَکَ الْمُتَنَطِّعُونَ ))
Translation:
“Those who exceeded the limits in religion were destroyed.”
(These words were repeated three times by the Prophet ﷺ)
➊ Excessiveness among the Prophets and the Righteous
The most dangerous form of exaggeration is to exceed the limits in the status and rank of the Prophets, peace be upon them, and righteous people, as the Jews and Christians did.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَقَالَتِ الْیَھُوْدُ عُزَیْرُ نِ ابْنُ اللّٰہِ وَقَالَتِ النَّصٰرَی الْمَسِیْحُ ابْنُ اللّٰہِ ﴾
Translation:
“And the Jews say, ‘Uzair is the son of Allah,’ and the Christians say, ‘The Messiah (Jesus, son of Mary) is the son of Allah.'”
This belief is pure exaggeration, because Allah Almighty is free from offspring. The Holy Quran has strongly rejected this belief in the harshest words.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَقَالُوا اتَّخَذَ الرَّحْمٰنُ وَلَدًا ٭ لَقَدْ جِئْتُمْ شَیْئًا اِدًّا ٭ تَکَادُ السَّمٰوٰتُ یَتَفَطَّرْنَ مِنْہُ وَتَنْشَقُّ الْاَرْضُ وَتَخِرُّ الْجِبَالُ ھَدًّا ٭ اَنْ دَعَوْا لِلرَّحْمٰنِ وَلَدًا ٭ وَمَا یَنْبَغِیْ لِلرَّحْمٰنِ اَنْ یَّتَّخِذَ وَلَدًا ﴾
Translation:
“And they say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son!’ Indeed, you have uttered an atrocious thing. The heavens might almost rupture therefrom, the earth split open, and the mountains collapse in devastation, That they attribute a son to the Most Merciful. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.”
Special Prohibition of Exaggeration for the People of the Book
Allah Almighty has especially forbidden the People of the Book from exaggeration in religion:
﴿ قُلْ یٰٓاَھْلَ الْکِتٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوْا فِیْ دِیْنِکُمْ غَیْرَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوْٓا اَھْوَآءَ قَوْمٍ قَدْ ضَلُّوْا مِنْ قَبْلُ وَاَضَلُّوْا کَثِیْرًا وَّضَلُّوْا عَنْ سَوَآءِ السَّبِیْلِ ﴾
Translation:
“Say, O People of the Scripture, do not exceed limits in your religion, and do not follow the desires of those who went astray before and misled many and strayed from the right path.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿ یٰٓاَھْلَ الْکِتٰبِ لَا تَغْلُوْا فِیْ دِیْنِکُمْ وَلَا تَقُوْلُوْا عَلَی اللّٰہِ اِلَّا الْحَقَّ ۚ اِنَّمَا الْمَسِیْحُ عِیْسَی ابْنُ مَرْیَمَ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ وَکَلِمَتُہٗ اَلْقٰھَآ اِلٰی مَرْیَمَ وَرُوْحٌ مِّنْہُ فَاٰمِنُوْا بِاللّٰہِ وَرُسُلِہٖ وَلَا تَقُوْلُوْا ثَلٰثَۃٌ ۚ اِنْتَھُوْا خَیْرًا لَّکُمْ ۚ اِنَّمَا اللّٰہُ اِلٰہٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ سُبْحٰنَہٗٓ اَنْ یَّکُوْنَ لَہٗ وَلَدٌ ﴾
Translation:
“O People of the Scripture! Do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah and His word which He conveyed to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers and do not say ‘Three.’ Refrain; it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son.”
Excessiveness among Scholars and Ascetics
The People of the Scripture did not only commit excessiveness regarding the Prophets but also in their scholars and monks.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اِتَّخَذُوْٓا اَحْبَارَھُمْ وَرُھْبَانَھُمْ اَرْبَابًا مِّنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰہِ ﴾
Translation:
“They have taken their scholars and monks as lords besides Allah.”
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explained it as follows:
(( أَمَا إِنَّہُمْ لَمْ یَکُوْنُوْا یَعْبُدُوْنَہُمْ، وَلٰکِنَّہُمْ کَانُوْا إِذَا أَحَلُّوْا لَہُمْ شَیْئًا اسْتَحَلُّوْہُ، وَإِذَا حَرَّمُوْا عَلَیْہِمْ شَیْئًا حَرَّمُوْہُ ))
Translation:
“They did not worship them, but when they declared something lawful, they accepted it as lawful, and when they said it was forbidden, they accepted it as forbidden.”
Examples of exaggeration in the Ummah of Muhammad
Unfortunately, some people in the Ummah of Muhammad also exaggerate in the status of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the righteous of the Ummah, to the extent that in poetry such things are said which contain clear polytheism, such as:
❀ He who was the equal of the Throne, becoming God,
Has descended in Medina as Mustafa.
All such statements are false and forbidden, because the Prophet ﷺ himself strictly forbade this.
He ﷺ said:
(( لَا تُطْرُوْنِیْ کَمَا أَطْرَتِ النَّصَارَی ابْنَ مَرْیَمَ، فَإِنَّمَا أَنَا عَبْدُہُ، فَقُوْلُوْا عَبْدُ اللّٰہِ وَرَسُوْلُہُ ))
Translation:
“Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising Jesus son of Mary. I am only a servant of Allah, so call me the servant of Allah and His Messenger.”
This hadith makes it clear that considering the Prophet ﷺ as a granter of needs, remover of difficulties, or a spiritual master (Ghaus) is exaggeration and forbidden.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ قُلْ لَا أَمْلِکُ لِنَفْسِیْ نَفْعًا وَّلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللّٰہُ ﴾
Translation:
“Say! I do not possess for myself any benefit or harm except what Allah wills.”
➋ Excessive reverence in the graves of the righteous and its dangerous consequences
After the Prophets, a very serious form of excessive reverence among the righteous is that their graves are turned into places of worship, needs are sought from them, offerings are presented, bowing and prostration are performed to them, and they are considered as grantors of needs and relievers of difficulties. All these acts are explicit forms of excessive reverence and are among the causes of polytheism.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ warned the Ummah strongly against this danger, especially regarding the graves of the Prophets.
Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrate that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ repeatedly said during his illness:
(( لَعْنَۃُ اللّٰہِ عَلَی الْیَہُوْدِ وَالنَّصَارٰی، اِتَّخَذُوْا قُبُوْرَ أَنْبِیَائِہِمْ مَسَاجِدَ ))
Translation:
“May Allah’s curse be upon the Jews and Christians who made the graves of their Prophets places of prostration.”
The purpose of this hadith was to warn the Ummah of Muhammad to avoid this practice and not to turn the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ grave into a place of worship. If it is forbidden to make the graves of the Prophets, peace be upon them, places of prostration, then what about the graves of those of lesser rank?
The Beginning of Shirk Was Due to Excessive Reverence for the Righteous
The beginning of shirk on earth also occurred due to excessive reverence for the righteous.
Sayyida Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, narrates that Umm Habiba and Umm Salama, may Allah be pleased with them, mentioned a church in Abyssinia which had pictures. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ أُولٰئِکَ إِذَا کَانَ فِیْہِمُ الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ فَمَاتَ، بَنَوْا عَلٰی قَبْرِہٖ مَسْجِدًا، وَصَوَّرُوْا فِیْہِ تِلْکَ الصُّوَرَ، فَأُولٰئِکَ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ عِنْدَ اللّٰہِ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ ))
Translation:
“When a righteous person among those people died, they would build a mosque over his grave and place pictures in it. These people will be the worst creatures in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.”
This is why Islam has strictly prohibited making graves places of prostration, building structures over them, and seeking prayers from them.
➌ Excessiveness in Worship
Excessiveness in worship means that a person exceeds the limit set by the Shariah. This behavior is not correct.
First Evidence: The Incident of Throwing Pebbles during Hajj
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ ordered me on the morning of the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah to collect pebbles. I brought pebbles the size of chickpeas, and he ﷺ said:
(( بِأَمْثَالِ ہٰؤُلَائِ، وَإِیَّاکُمْ وَالْغُلُوَّ فِی الدِّیْنِ ))
[Translation:]
“Throw pebbles like these, and avoid excessiveness in religion.”
Today, many people throw large stones, shoes, and slippers at the Jamarat or even curse; all these are forms of excessiveness.
Second Evidence: Excessiveness in Wudu
Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr bin Al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed wudu and washed each limb three times, then said:
(( فَمَنْ زَادَ عَلٰی ہٰذَا فَقَدْ أَسَائَ وَتَعَدَّی وَظَلَمَ ))
[Translation:]
“Whoever does more than this has done wrong, exceeded the limit, and committed oppression.”
From this, it is understood that exceeding the limit in worship is not righteousness but a sin.
➍ Excessiveness in Voluntary Acts
It is not correct to exceed limits even in voluntary acts of worship, because the real goodness lies in following the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Prohibition of Consecutive Fasting
Hazrat Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( لَا تُوَاصِلُوْا ))
“Do not fast consecutively”
The Companions asked: But you fast consecutively?
He ﷺ said:
(( إِنِّیْ لَسْتُ مِثْلَکُمْ، إِنِّیْ أَبِیْتُ یُطْعِمُنِیْ رَبِّیْ وَیَسْقِیْنِیْ ))
Translation:
“I am not like you; my Lord feeds me and gives me drink.”
The Incident of Three Companions
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه narrates that three Companions intended to go to extremes in worship. One stayed up all night in prayer, another fasted continuously, and the third resolved to abandon marriage.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنْ سُنَّتِی فَلَیْسَ مِنِّی ))
Translation:
“Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.”
➎ Not Accepting the Concession of Shariah
One form of excessiveness is to reject the concession given by Allah.
Hazrat Jabir رضي الله عنه narrates:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw a fasting person traveling and said:
(( لَیْسَ مِنَ الْبِرِّ الصَّوْمُ فِی السَّفَرِ ))
Translation:
“Fasting while traveling is not a virtue.”
➏ Being Strict on Oneself
An evident form of extremism is when a person unnecessarily puts themselves into hardship and abandons the ease prescribed by Shariah. This behavior is neither desirable nor liked.
First Evidence: The Vow of Abu Isra’il
Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was delivering a sermon when a man was standing. When asked about him, it was told that he had vowed:
- He will stand
- He will not sit
- He will not go into the shade
- He will not speak to anyone
- He will fast
Then the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( مُرْہُ فَلْیَتَکَلَّمْ، وَلْیَسْتَظِلَّ، وَلْیَقْعُدْ، وَلْیُتِمَّ صَوْمَہُ ))
Translation:
“Order him to speak, go into the shade, sit, and complete his fast.”
Second Evidence: The Vow of Walking for Hajj
Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that his sister vowed to walk to the House of Allah. When asked from the Prophet ﷺ, he said:
(( لِتَمْشِ وَلْتَرْکَبْ ))
Translation:
“Tell him to walk and also to take a ride.”
Second argument: The incident of the old man
Hazrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ saw an old man walking with the support of his sons. It was told that he had vowed to walk on foot. So the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَنْ تَعْذِیْبِ ہٰذَا نَفْسَہُ لَغَنِیٌّ ))
Translation:
“Allah is free from need that he should put himself into hardship.”
Religion is easy
The comprehensive and fundamental statement of the Prophet ﷺ is:
(( إِنَّ الدِّیْنَ یُسْرٌ، وَلَنْ یُّشَادَّ الدِّیْنَ أَحَدٌ إِلَّا غَلَبَہُ، فَسَدِّدُوْا وَقَارِبُوْا وَأَبْشِرُوْا ))
Translation:
“Indeed, religion is easy, and whoever makes religion a rigor will not be able to continue in that way. So be moderate, do what is near to you, and give glad tidings.”
➐ Hardship in religion through unnecessary questions
One form of extremism is unnecessary and irrelevant questions, through which undue hardship is created in religion.
Question regarding Hajj
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( أَیُّہَا النَّاسُ، قَدْ فَرَضَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیْکُمُ الْحَجَّ فَحُجُّوْا ))
“O people! Allah has made Hajj obligatory upon you, so perform Hajj.”
A person asked: Every year?
You ﷺ said:
(( لَوْ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ لَوَجَبَتْ وَلَمَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ ))
Translation:
“If I were to say yes, it would become obligatory every year, and you would not be able to bear it.”
Then he said:
(( ذَرُوْنِیْ مَا تَرَکْتُکُمْ… ))
Translation:
“Do not ask me until I order you, because previous nations were destroyed due to excessive questioning and disputes.”
Severe Warning
The Prophet ﷺ said:
(( إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْمُسْلِمِیْنَ جُرْمًا مَنْ سَأَلَ عَنْ شَیْیْءٍ لَمْ یُحَرَّمْ ))
Translation:
“The greatest offender among the Muslims is the one because of whose question something is made forbidden.”
➑ Excessiveness in Supplication
It is necessary to avoid excessiveness in supplication, whether in terms of voice or words.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اُدْعُوْا رَبَّکُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَّخُفْیَۃً اِنَّہٗ لَا یُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِیْنَ ﴾
Translation:
“Call upon your Lord with humility and in secret. Indeed, He does not like transgressors.”
Prohibition of Loud Supplication
Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( اِرْبَعُوا عَلٰی أَنْفُسِکُمْ… ))
Translation:
“Be gentle with yourself, you are not calling out to a deaf or absent one; He is the one who hears and is near.”
Words of Excessiveness in Supplication
Hazrat Abdullah bin Mughaffal (may Allah be pleased with him) saw his son asking for a specific palace and said:
(( سَلِ اللّٰہَ الْجَنَّۃَ وَتَعَوَّذْ بِہٖ مِنَ النَّارِ ))
“Ask Allah for Paradise and seek refuge from Hellfire.”
And he narrated the Prophet’s ﷺ saying:
(( سَیَکُوْنُ فِیْ ہٰذِہِ الْأُمَّۃِ قَوْمٌ یَّعْتَدُوْنَ فِی الطَّہُوْرِ وَالدُّعَاءِ ))
Translation:
“There will be people among my Ummah who will exceed limits in purity and supplication.”
➒ Excessiveness in Dawah to Allah
Dawah to Allah is a great obligation, but it is not correct to adopt excessiveness and harshness in it. Some callers and preachers become so harsh in their invitation that people become averse to religion, whereas the Quran and Sunnah command gentleness, wisdom, and good manners in calling.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اُدْعُ اِلٰی سَبِیْلِ رَبِّکَ بِالْحِکْمَۃِ وَالْمَوْعِظَۃِ الْحَسَنَۃِ وَجَادِلْھُمْ بِالَّتِیْ ھِیَ اَحْسَنُ ﴾
Translation:
“Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.”
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sent Hazrat Mu’adh رضي الله عنه and Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari رضي الله عنه to Yemen, he said:
(( یَسِّرَا وَلَا تُعَسِّرَا، وَبَشِّرَا وَلَا تُنَفِّرَا، وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلَا تَخْتَلِفَا ))
Translation:
“Make things easy, do not make things difficult, give glad tidings, do not cause hatred, and maintain unity among yourselves.”
Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ said:
(( أَحَبُّ الْأَدْیَانِ إِلَی اللّٰہِ الْحَنِیْفِیَّۃُ السَّمْحَۃُ ))
Translation:
“The most beloved religion to Allah is that which is consistent and easy.”
Neglecting Priorities in Dawah is also Extremism
Some callers get excessively entangled in minor and ijtihadi issues, while ignoring beliefs, Tawheed, the pillars of Islam, the pillars of Iman, and ethics. This is also a form of extremism in dawah because the Shariah has clearly defined the priorities of dawah.
Similarly, some people only mention “virtues of deeds,” often from weak or fabricated narrations, while remaining silent on:
- Tawheed of Lordship
- The severity of Shirk
- The danger of innovations (Bid’ah)
- Major sins (adultery, alcohol, theft, murder, etc.)
This attitude is also extremism and against the balance of religion.
➓ Extremism in Takfir
One very dangerous form of exaggeration in Dawah is to declare Muslims as disbelievers over minor matters, whereas declaring someone a disbeliever (Takfir) is an extremely delicate and serious issue.
Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
(( إِذَا کَفَّرَ الرَّجُلُ أَخَاہُ فَقَدْ بَائَ بِہَا أَحَدُہُمَا ))
Translation:
“When a man calls his brother a disbeliever, then one of them is deserving of that.”
Similarly, he said:
(( أَیُّمَا امْرِیٍٔ قَالَ لِأَخِیْہِ: یَا کَافِرُ، فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِہَا أَحَدُہُمَا ))
Translation:
“He who calls his brother a disbeliever, if he is indeed so, then it is fine; otherwise, the accusation returns upon the one who says it.”
Indeed, in one hadith, calling a believer a disbeliever is equated to killing:
(( وَمَنْ رَمَی مُؤْمِنًا بِکُفْرٍ فَہُوَ کَقَتْلِہٖ ))
Translation:
“He who accuses a believer of disbelief is as if he has killed him.”
⓫ Exaggeration in the Recitation of the Quran
The Holy Quran is the Word of Allah Almighty; it must be recited according to the prescribed rules of Tajweed, with proper pauses and humility. Some reciters and preachers exaggerate so much in recitation that:
- They unnaturally stretch the voice
- They exceed limits in melody and intonation
- They violate articulation points and Tajweed rules
This behavior is not correct because the Quran is to be recited exactly as it was revealed.
⓬ The Consequence of Extremism in Religion
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also warned about the fate of those who commit extremism in religion:
(( صِنْفَانِ مِنْ أُمَّتِیْ لَنْ تَنَالَہُمَا شَفَاعَتِیْ: إِمَامٌ ظَلُوْمٌ غَشُوْمٌ، وَکُلُّ غَالٍ مَارِقٍ ))
Translation:
“My intercession will not be granted to two groups of my Ummah: one is the oppressive and tyrannical ruler, and the other is every person who commits extremism and, due to extremism, falls outside the religion.”
Conclusion
There is no place for extremism in Islam. Allah Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ have commanded moderation and ease in every matter. Whoever exceeds the limits set by Shariah brings destruction upon himself. Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim to avoid all forms of extremism, firmly hold onto the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, and adopt the religion with the balance taught by Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
May Allah grant us the ability to understand the truth, to act upon it, and to be protected from all kinds of extremism.
وآخر دعوانا أن الحمد للہ رب العالمین
